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I squint at the ceiling, trying to remember what time we got in. Late. Or early. Depends who’s asking.

My throat is dry, mascara probably smudged, but I don’t care. What I do care about is my phone.

I reach blindly for it on the nightstand. No messages. I blink, then check again. Still nothing from Nick.

“Did I miss a text?” I murmur.

Thalia rolls over, peeking through one eye. “From who? Your stupidly sexy fiancé?”

I don’t answer. Because my browser’s already buzzing with alerts. Headlines pop up before I can type his name. Oh God.

London Nights & New York Lights. The Hardy-Thomas Billionaire Siblings Paint the Town Red

Heiress Sierra Thomas spotted at NYC hotspot house after Nick Hardy hits London club scene

Billionaire Heirs Hit The Nightlife On Both Sides Of The Atlantic

The Thomas-Hardy Crew Takes Over London & New York Club Scenes

My stomach tightens. I scroll and scroll and scroll through thousands of photos. There’s one of me, blurry but recognizable, laughing with Kai at the bar. Another, with Thalia pulling me towards the dance floor.

I keep going… then stop cold.

A photo. Of Nick.

He’s on a crowded dance floor, head tilted down slightly, face half in shadow. But it’s him. His shirt sleeves rolled up, forearms tense.

Another one. Nick. Center of frame. Grinning. Sweaty. A girl dancing a little too close. Not touching him exactly, but in his personal space.

No text from last night?

Fine.

I’ll be the one who starts.

Sierra: Seems you had fun last night.

Sierra: You looked… entertained.

*photo attached*

His reply comes faster than expected.

Nick: Shit.

Nick: I didn't even see her. I swear.

Nick: I danced only with the boys.

Sierra: Oh, I saw. And apparently, so did half of London and New York.

Sierra: Must’ve been a wild party if random girls thought it was an open invitation to grind on you.

Nick: Baby, I just wanted to get through the night without thinking about how far away you are.

Sierra: Right. So you distracted yourself with random girls.

Nick: No.